Welsh professionals Tim Dykes, Mark Laskey, Craig Smith and Kyron Sullivan will have the chance to fulfil their European Tour dreams after they were selected by Ryder Cup Wales to receive invitations to compete on the Challenge Tour this year.
The quartet will be hoping to follow in the spike marks of Rhys Davies, who made his breakthrough when winning his first Challenge Tour event as a sponsor’s invitation at the SWALEC Wales Challenge. Since then Davies has gone from strength to strength, recently capturing his maiden European Tour title at the Trophée Hassan II.
The opportunity to tee up in a number of events including the SWALEC Wales Challenge event, which will be held from August 25-28 at the Vale Hotel Golf and Spa in Cardiff, is one of the benefits received as part of Wales’ hosting of The 38th Ryder Cup at The Celtic Manor later this year.
“This is a huge deal for me and the other players,” said Craig Smith, the Cardiff golfer who is now based in Abu Dhabi and will divide his playing time between the Challenge and Asian Tours.
“We all know how hard it is to obtain playing privileges on the European circuit, so what Ryder Cup Wales do for us, as competitors, is phenomenal. I can speak for each and every one of the guys when I say that we are very grateful for this opportunity, and we would all love to do what Rhys [Davies] has done.
“This time last year he was playing out in Asia – as I have been – then he won on the Challenge Tour in Wales and progressed onto The European Tour, where he has just won his first Tour title in his rookie season.
“We all put in a lot of hard work, but you also need the playing opportunities – and that is where Ryder Cup Wales comes in. There are so many of us who are close to breaking through at the highest level but, without the opportunities Ryder Cup Wales give us, it would be very difficult.
“The whole year often rests on one week at Qualifying School, which can be quite a banana skin, but these opportunities can help to get us there.
“I am gaining some very good experience competing in Asia, which has made me a stronger competitor. Hopefully I can become an even better player on the Challenge Tour – I would love to become the fourth Welshman to win the Wales Challenge.”
Smith, who finished third at the 2007 Wales Challenge, will also received invitations to compete in seven other Challenge Tour events on the 2010 Schedule.
Sullivan and Laskey will also receive seven invites each, whilst Dykes will receive four invites as well as the chance to play in the SWALEC Wales Challenge.
Ryder Cup Wales, in partnership with the Sports Council for Wales’ Elite Cymru programme and the Golf Union of Wales, have an integrated development programme to help young Welsh golfers, and playing on the Challenge Tour is an important part of that initiative.
The four players qualified on the basis of previous results and performance, showing they could make the most of the opportunities on offer.
“Having Welsh players competing at the highest level in Europe is vital for their future development and also for the international profile of golf in Wales,” said Ryder Cup Wales Chairman, John Jermine.
“We have all watched Rhys Davies establish himself as a true competitor on the world stage with his recent victory in Morocco, and it’s important that the opportunities which allowed him to fulfill his potential are now given to others.
“These four players have plenty of talent and experience, but professional golf is so competitive that it is extremely difficult to gain entry to the best events. So we are delighted that we have been able to secure these opportunities for them.
“Hosting The Ryder Cup in Wales has already made a huge difference to the golfers in Wales, and we hope to see more Welsh players taking advantage of this unique opportunity for them to follow in Rhys’ footsteps and reach the top.”
Sport Wales Chair, Professor Laura McAllister, said: “The opportunity for our young players to compete in Challenge Tour events is a direct result of The Ryder Cup. It is helping us to build on our rich history of golf success, and provides us with the tools to help Welsh players compete at the highest levels.
“It has been tremendous to see how Rhys Davies, who has been supported by Elite Cymru, has used the Challenge Tour as a springboard to his career, and I’m sure he is of huge inspiration to his fellow players.”
